Lint Vent Fire Suppression With Heat-Responsive Valve Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clothes dryer fires frequently occur in or near lint vent exhaust systems, causing significant damage and injury due to the ignition of lint and debris, highlighting a need for improved safety mechanisms in home appliance exhausts.
Innovation Solution
A fire extinguishing system comprising a conduit integrated into the lint vent exhaust tube with a heat-responsive valve that actuates to release fire suppression material into the conduit to extinguish fires, potentially replacing or retrofitting existing exhaust tube segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fire extinguishing system is integrated into the lint vent exhaust system, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing system is nested within the existing lint vent exhaust system structure. The conduit integrates with the exhaust tube, and the fire suppression components are housed within the same spatial envelope, allowing the safety system to be embedded without requiring separate external installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a heat-responsive valve that automatically actuates when exposed to heat from a fire, eliminating the need for external monitoring systems, control panels, or manual intervention. The fire suppression material is automatically discharged based on thermal conditions alone, making the system self-activating and reducing control complexity.
2Reliability
If fire suppression material is stored in the exhaust system, then fire response capability is improved, but volume of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage containers for fire suppression material are positioned within the conduit structure of the exhaust system, utilizing the existing spatial volume. This nesting approach allows the fire suppression components to occupy the same physical space as the exhaust flow path without requiring additional external volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppression material is deployed locally at the point of fire detection within the conduit, rather than requiring a centralized large-volume storage system. The system targets suppression capability precisely where needed in the exhaust path, minimizing overall material storage requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively suppresses fires within the conduit and adjacent areas, enhancing safety for home and commercial laundry operations by integrating a fire extinguisher system directly into the clothes dryer lint vent exhaust system, reducing damage and risk from lint-related fires.
Implementation Method 1
at least one valve connected to the at least one storage responsive to a heat event within the conduit
Implementation Method 2
release fire suppression material into the conduit to extinguish fires
Data Source
AI summary
A fire extinguisher system comprising a conduit and at least one storage, with at least one valve connected to the at least one storage responsive to a heat event within the conduit.